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Nothing ever felt right. One day, things just shifted, and Childe was left feeling like something was missing. His large bed felt like a second body was supposed to be next to him. Often, he turned to speak to someone that doesn’t exist.
He would write it off as one of the several weird things he had experienced, but it wasn’t the same this time. It felt like someone pulled one over him in a cruel and fucked up way, but asking his fellow comrades had failed to yield answers.
If he focused hard, he could vaguely remember a smaller figure embracing him and a mocking voice labeling him a dumbass. He could barely remember the taste of bitterness from a tea left over-steeped on his lips. The feeling of warm hands holding him in the freezing clear nights, under countless stars.
His soul knew deep inside that there was another soul who knew him more than he could ever know himself; secrets and fears traded away to be safe with each other. Childe remembered the feeling of being vulnerable and safe in this unknown person’s arms as if the world never mattered.
Childe may be dumbass, but he isn’t stupid. There was once someone, and something happened to them, and because of that, everyone forgot. He nearly did too, but his soul remembered. He knew that he had to set off to find out what happened to his missing half.
—
It’s a shame that in the middle of his investigation, his archon remembered his existence and ordered him to be stationed at Fontaine to aid the Knave with the retrieval of the Gnosis.
That didn’t exactly go well since he was thrown into the absolute chaos of having his vision failing on him, being accused of a crime he didn’t commit, and being thrown in jail on top of that.
In this series of events, his misfortune continued, with Childe finding himself facing the Narwhal that he met back then when he fell into that unknown abyss. He rose to the challenge as if he were 14 once more. This battle lasted far too long, and this Foul Legacy form he bears continued to destroy him from the inside out. Yet, he persisted, attempting to prove his master wrong, and he guessed a small part of him wanted to protect the innocent folks from this far-too-stubborn Narwhal.
Eventually, all things had to come to an end, and he passed out mid-fight. After a while he woke up, looking up at his master’s serious face.
“Brat, you could do better than that by now,” she scolded him, “but still, that ain’t the worst attempt I’ve seen from you.”
He chuckled. “Never thought I’d live to see the day that you would consider my attempt alright.”
Skirk responded with a kick to his side. “If you got the time to laugh, you got the time to make your way back to Teyvat.” She walked up to his head and looked down. “Train up well. Something big is coming. Tell that boy of yours to be careful too.”
Childe scrambled to sit up. “Wait wait, you know about him?!”
She scoffed, “What? You think I’m out of the loop just because I’m not around. Yeah, I know about your boy. You suit each other, being stubborn and annoying.”
“Please Master…” Childe pleaded, “Please tell me more about him. You’re the only one who remembered. Even I don’t remember his face or name anymore. But I know he existed once.”
Skirk made a perplexed expression before understanding dawned upon her face. “Oh, sounds like someone removed his existence from Irminsul. I cannot say more because you’re still a child of Teyvat, but if he hasn’t left Teyvat, which I doubt he could…he would still exist somewhere.”
She smirked. “Good luck, brat. I’ll see you next time.” She turned and left through an abyss portal.
Childe was lost in his thoughts…so that person that his soul remembered still exists? This kind of hope was the best thing his master could ever give. His wounds faded into numb feelings as he rushed back to where he came from with extra determination to find his missing half.
It took a couple–actually hundreds but he didn’t count–of portals before he finally made it back to Teyvat, and he ran into the traveler first thing. Aether met his eyes, but before he could say anything Paimon interrupted with, “Childe! Are you alright? Paimon didn’t expect you to be so hurt!”
“I’m fine, but I need to talk with our dear traveler friend here for a moment…privately.” Childe smiled painfully.
Paimon got the clue and nodded, “Okay, Paimon will be over there getting some snacks for herself!”
Aether became suspicious, “What do you need from me?”
Childe laughed softly, “Not much, just wanted to make sure about a couple of things.” Aether nodded, waiting for Childe to get to the point, “Okay, so first, you’re not from Teyvat correct?”
“Yes…and?”
“My master implied something about Irminsul, and removing existence. So I’m assuming that whatever happens to Irminsul will affect all of us, say like our memories.”
Aether hesitated, lifting his index finger to his lip, looking up at Celestia floating in the sky. His head moved slightly up and down.
Childe realized what was going on and was quick to stay silent. They were being watched. As soon as his answer registered in his head, he realized this may be the very reason why his beloved was missing. He chose his next words carefully. “Alright so, have you seen my friend around? He's been missing for a while. I think he’s shorter than me with a terrible attitude problem.”
Aether’s eye lit up as he said, “Oh, you mean Arashi? I met him back in Sumeru. He’s a new arrival there due to…you know the whole mess that happened earlier regarding the matters we touched upon.”
‘Arashi, huh?’ Childe thought to himself. He felt like that name didn’t fit just right, but that was the closest lead he had to finding that mysterious person.
“Okay, Traveler, do you know where I can find Arashi?” he asked, his hopes renewed once more.
“Yeah, your best bet is to seek an audience with Kusanali under the guise of a diplomatic meeting between two nations. The friend you’re seeking out is currently her apprentice.”
“Thanks. I appreciate you helping me out here.” Childe smiled cheerfully.
“If you need anything, you know how to find me.” Aether nodded.
—
Okay, the first step of the plan was to figure out how the hell he was going to get in touch with the Dendro Archon since he was acting alone and not on her Majesty’s behalf. Eh, he’d figure it out when he got there.
It was a private journey, armed with few soldiers from Fatui because he didn’t want to let his Archon catch wind of what he was doing. The absolute worst case that could happen is he misses the opportunity entirely and Arashi would just disappear completely.
But what he didn’t account for was the traveler sending word ahead of him so he was greeted by a stern tall gray-haired man, who took a single look at him, and went “Huh, the traveler wasn’t kidding when he said it’s easy to tell you apart from others with your distinctive hair color.”
Childe was left speechless by the rude remark. “Who are you and what are you doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious? You wanted an audience with our archon and I’m here to help make that happen.” Alhaitham, already annoyed with Childe, turned and started making his way toward Sumeru City, only vaguely gesturing for his team to follow.
—
He knew of rumors surrounding Lord Kusanali, but he didn’t put many stakes to the fact that she was literally a child. Age be damned, he couldn’t imagine how difficult the events with the sages attempting to overthrow her were. His inner big-brother energy was fighting a battle inside him to wrap up Kusanali into a warm blanket and keep her protected from all the people who sought to do her wrong.
But he was snapped out of his thoughts with “So, Aether told me that a friend of his is coming here for something important,” Nahida remarks, “I’m assuming that friend of his is yourself.”
Even though she was a child, he still kneeled and bowed, because he didn’t forget his manners. “Yes, Lord Kusanali. I seek an audience with you for an important matter close to my heart.”
Before he could say anything, a short figure came strolling in. “Nahida, Did you need me?”
Their eyes met, and before Childe knew it, the name “Scara” came tumbling out of his mouth, leaving the other shocked.
“How did you remember?” he asked hesitantly.
“I didn’t, but I do now.” Childe approached Scaramouche. “How could I ever forget anyone like you? I don’t completely understand what happened, but I never want to go through that feeling ever again.”
“I much rather suffer in the abyss a hundred times over than ever go through life not knowing your soul,” Childe admitted, feeling vulnerable, eyes filling up with tears.
“But you found me,” Scaramouche stated, smiling softly. “I knew a stubborn bastard like you wouldn’t give up that easily.” He smirked but his words came out weaker than intended, as if he was afraid for a split second that Childe would have long forgotten about him.
Childe stopped in front of Scaramouche and placed his hand against his cheek, heart tender and swelling with love. Scaramouche was done waiting for Childe—after all this time, he missed him too—and rushed in to capture his lips into a soft kiss.
Two lost souls finally found their missing halves at that very moment, and they knew that after all this mess, nothing could part them once more.